Van Halen Back With A Bang!

While an anxious world awaits word on the upcoming Van Halen tour, the band is reportedly doing a gig this week at a New York City venue that’s a far cry from the arenas the group usually plays.

The band has invited music writers and critics to attend a performance at 250-seater Club Wha? in Greenwich Village Thursday night. While nothing official was mentioned in the invite, The New York Times reports journalists “have been told the group will play a short set.”

Why Club Wha? Apparently the band has a connection to the venue via Diamond Dave. Rolling Stone reports Roth’s Uncle Manny used to manage the room decades ago and booked Jimi Hendrix, Bill Cosby and Richie Pryor back in the day.

Meanwhile, we’re only seven days away from Van Halen ticket madness. The band posted a video on its website last week proclaiming the first round of ticket sales for the upcoming tour would launch Jan. 10. Dates have yet to be released.